Title | Financial hardship and change in emotional well-being before to during COVID-19 pandemic among middle-aged and older Americans: Moderating effects of internal coping resources. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2023 |
Authors | Choi, SL, Lee, YG |
Journal | Social Science & Medicine |
Volume | 317 |
Pagination | 115572 |
ISSN Number | 1873-5347 |
Keywords | Adaptation, COVID-19, financial stress, Leave Behind Questionnaire, Pandemics, Psychological |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between financial hardship and change in emotional well-being-positive and negative affect-before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among middle-aged and older Americans and to examine the extent to which associations were moderated by internal coping resources-dispositional mastery and optimism. METHOD: Data derived from the Leave-Behind Questionnaire in the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of U.S. adults aged 51 and older (N = 1312). We estimated multivariate ordinary least squares regression models with interaction terms to evaluate prospectively the benefits of mastery and optimism as internal coping resources for middle-aged and older adults. RESULTS: Dispositional mastery moderated the effects of financial hardship on changes in negative and positive affect, respectively, before to during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, optimism did not significantly moderate the effects of financial hardship on change in negative and positive affect before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have implications for interventions aimed at improving middle-aged and older adults' emotional well-being by promoting internal coping resources. Specifically, interventions should focus on financial hardship and mastery for vulnerable middle-aged and older adults in the context of public health crises. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115572 |
Citation Key | 12916 |
PubMed ID | 36473337 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9683862 |
Grant List | U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |